Criminal Legal Reform

We work to reverse the tide of mass incarceration, advance constitutional rights, shift power to under-resourced communities, and elevate approaches to justice and safety that advance fundamental freedoms for all.

Collage of fist, protest, and police

What you need to know

23,032 people are incarcerated

in Wisconsin, as of February 2025.

63,200 people are on probation or parole

and cannot vote until they are "off paper."

52 municipal courts use carceral sanctions

when people fail to pay their tickets.

What's At Stake

As Wisconsinites plea for racial justice and real public safety solutions, policing remains systemically inequitable, the conditions inside Wisconsin prisons remain unacceptable, and marijuana remains illegal — all the while the system continues to siphon off critical taxpayer money.

Our Work

There's still a long way to go to end mass incarceration in Wisconsin, but recently, there's been some good news:

The Latest

News & Commentary
Ida B Wells quote reading "Those who commit the murders writes the reports."

The ‘Cycle’ Continues

Another Wisconsinite was killed by police – hours after the world premiere of “Cycle," a documentary about the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Ty’Rese West by Mount Pleasant Police Officer Eric Giese.
Publication
weed report

The State of Cannabis in Wisconsin

We released The State of Cannabis in Wisconsin, a report advocating for marijuana legalization, pointing to the overwhelming support for legalization among Wisconsin voters and the cost of continued criminalization.
Publication

Failure to Pay: The Use of Debt-Based Carceral Sanctions and Warrants in Wisconsin's Municipal Courts

"Failure to Pay" reveals the scope of debt-based sanctions in Wisconsin's municipal courts, creating a two-tiered system of punishment for those with financial means and those without.
Know Your Rights

Know Your Rights: Police Encounters

Legislation
Feb 28, 2025

AB 87/SB 95: Modern Day Poll Tax

This bill would prevent people with felony convictions from regaining their constitutional right to vote until they have paid all costs imposed as part of their sentence.
Status: Vetoed by governor
Position: Oppose
Legislation
Nov 06, 2025

AB-624/ SB-610: Drug-Free Homeless Service Zones

This bill runs the risk of either criminalizing people in desperate need of shelter care and other services.
Status: Introduced
Position: Oppose
Legislation
Dec 12, 2025

AB-773/ SB-755: Anti-Shackling During Pregnancy

This bill limits the use of physical restraints on pregnant and certain postpartum people who are in the custody of a jail or correctional facility.
Status: Introduced
Position: Support
Legislation
Dec 24, 2025

AB-583/ SB-577: Compensation for the Wrongfully Convicted

This bill would increase the yearly compensation from $5,000 to $50,000, increasing the overall cap from $25,000 to $1 million.
Status: Introduced
Position: Support